Problem with Airport Extreme and AT&T 7550 DSL modem/router

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Level 1

96 points

Problem with Airport Extreme and AT&T 7550 DSL modem/router

My house network is AT&T DSL with a ATT 7550 DSL modem router (Really a Netgear ADSL2 + router) I have the newest Airport Extreme. (Gen 6?)

I connected the AE to the modem/router with an ethernet cable and opened airport utility using a wireless connection from my MBP.The utility sees an internet connection but the amber light on the AE blinks forever.

I followed the guide to do a hard reset of the AE and did very combination of power up/down in conjunction with the modem/router.

The airport utility has a green dot for internet and sees another device at the upper left dropdown box.

I cannot select AE and click on "edit" menu to get a list of reasons why the amber light is blinking as described in the booklet.

Airport utility will not allow me to create any other network other than new. I want to create a bridge network and use the AE as a wireless extender for my upstairs computer.

Posted on Oct 19, 2014 1:28 PM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,776 points

Oct 19, 2014 2:08 PM in response to Kanihoncho

I want to create a bridge network and use the AE as a wireless extender for my upstairs computer.

Before we begin to troubleshoot this, we just want to make sure that you understand that the AirPort Extreme must remain connected to the ATT router using a permanent wired Ethernet cable connection.

The AirPort Extreme cannot extend the wireless signal from the ATT router using a wireless connection if that is what you are hoping to do.

However, you can locate the AirPort Extreme anywhere that an Ethernet cable will reach from the ATT router to the AirPort, since an Ethernet cable can be run up to about 330 feet or 100 meters with virtually no signal loss.

Hopefully, the AirPort Extreme will be located much closer to your upstairs computer than the ATT router.

Locating the AirPort Extreme close to the ATT router will not help, since the signal from the AirPort Extreme will not likely reach any further than the signal from the ATT router.

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Answer 2

Kanihoncho Author

Level 1

96 points

Oct 19, 2014 2:56 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the reply Bob,

I do plan on having it permanently connected to the modem router. I was hoping that AE's "directionality of antennas" would provide s stronger signal.The AE would be right near the modem/router and it's about 30 feet to the upstairs computer. I do not think there is a path to extend the ethernet cable without altering my landlord's house. My service upstairs is ok enough to live with.

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,776 points

Oct 19, 2014 3:17 PM in response to Kanihoncho

I do plan on having it permanently connected to the modem router

Thanks for clarifying that for me.

I was hoping that AE's "directionality of antennas" would provide s stronger signal.The AE would be right near the modem/router and it's about 30 feet to the upstairs computer

It is never possible to predict actual wireless performance without actually trying things out in your home, but my experience is that the AirPorts are not as strong in comparison to most Netgear routers.

You never know though, so it is possible that you might pick up a better signal from the Extreme in your particular setup.

But, there is no reason to try to "extend" the Netgear network if the AirPort Extreme will be in close proximity to the Netgear / ATT router. That will actually increase the chances that wireless interference may occur between the routers.

I would recommend that you configure the AirPort Extreme to create a new network and see how it works for you. The closer that the AirPort can be located to the upstairs computer, the better the signal will be.

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